For many it is simply fun and games, but for a growing global community it is a demanding sport played with a high degree of professionalism: gaming, or better eSports. GELITA now wants to support food and beverage producers in scoring points with the gaming community with innovative eSports nutrition. The market for these kinds of products is becoming increasingly attractive, as a Table Talk at Food Matters 2021 also shows.

Professional gaming is becoming a bigger and bigger business. According to leading consultancy firm PwC, the global market for eSports is exploding. It grew from 162 million euros in revenue in 2014 to 820 million euros in 2019. It had been forecast to grow to almost €1.5 billion by 2023. That was before the coronavirus crisis began, further fueling the trend.

GELITA is the first company to develop professional gamers as a target group for bioactive collagen peptides. Their need for a healthy diet is potentially high, as Daniel Herman also confirms in Table Talk. “Athletes who want to perform at a high level, whether it’s in traditional sports or eSports, need to take a holistic approach. In addition to training and recovery, nutrition in particular is crucial,” stresses the founder and head of the sports nutrition manufacturer Bio-Synergy. He explains: “Supplements like collagen-based proteins can help muscles and tendons recover better. In eSports it is also particularly important to keep the eyes, brain, and all the cognitive functions fit. This is where B vitamins, ginseng and caffeine can play an important role.” In fact, the physical and mental demands on eSports athletes are very diverse. Staring at a screen for hours can cause mental exhaustion and headaches. In addition, gamers may also experience vision problems due to excessive exposure to blue light. Constant use of the keyboard, mouse and controller can cause joint problems. One very common phenomenon is “gamer’s thumb” – an inflammation caused by overuse of the tendons in the thumb that causes pain in the thumb, wrist and forearm. Neck and back problems are also common.

GELITA is therefore currently demonstrating how eSport athletes’ problems with joints and tendons in particular can be addressed with various product concepts. “We are making use of the positive properties of TENDOFORTE^®,” says Dolle. “Several clinical studies have shown that our bioactive collagen peptides have a direct impact on joint and tendon health.”

She refers to a study by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), which investigated the benefits of taking TENDOFORTE^® supplements over a period of six months (cross-over design) („Strong tendons and ligaments“ too).

The 20 participants suffered from longterm symptoms of chronic Achilles tendinopathy that did not respond to any of the traditional treatments, leaving the athletes unable to train. “Within three months, 12 of the 20 participants were able to start running again after beginning a daily regimen of 5 g of TENDOFORTE^® and a highly specialized training program,” Dolle reports. The effects also lasted long term. The group taking TENDOFORTE^® in a cross-over design continued to benefit after the three-month washout period.

TENDOFORTE^® is therefore an ideal ingredient for food and beverage manufacturers who want to establish themselves early on in the still young eSports nutrition market with functional products. GELITA’s bioactive collagen peptides (BCP^®) are tasteless and can be incorporated into a variety of formulations. They can easily be combined with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, as GELITA’s ideas show. “Green Apple Splash contains, for example, caffeine and various vitamins in addition to TENDOFORTE^® to not only support tendons and joints, but also the ability to concentrate over a longer period,” Dolle cites as an example. Sour Lemon Bomb turns the fruit gums, which are also popular with many gamers, into a low-sugar functional candy with the same positive effect on tendons and joints. And she cites the Bioactive Crusty Bar as an example of a healthy snack that provides extra energy for long gaming sessions.

GELITA’s product concepts exemplify the range of different possibilities with BCP^®. In addition to protein bars, fruit gums, yogurts and ready-to-drink products, many other functional foods and beverages are possible with TENDOFORTE^®. The experts at GELITA do not just assist customers with technical support when entering the gaming market. GELITA is also happy to help with the development of new product ideas, the formulation of recipes and marketing. The company sees great scope for innovation and growth in the gaming sector and wants to exploit this excellent market opportunity together with its customers.

Share on: